Eastiew Community Church
Eastview Community Church

Honduran Pastors' Retreat a Success

Pastor Lorne Pearson - 2007-01-31

Once again, Eastview, through the efforts of our hardworking Missions Team and in partnership with Family Life Network (FLN), had the opportunity to support a weekend Pastor Couples' Retreat in Honduras. For the second time in five years, Jennifer and I were privileged to attend as guests and participators and, like the first, were very impacted by the event.

The retreat has become an annual event through the support of Eastview, other churches, and FLN. After several years in the heart of the country, this year's retreat was held in the coastal city of Puerto Cortes and priority registration was given to those ministering locally in an attempt to provide the opportunity to new groups of pastors.

For many of these pastors, this event presents them with the only weekend they are able to get away all year though still not necessarily giving them a weekend off. In Honduras, many of the Christian churches hold their services on Sunday evening so our retreat concluded in time for many of them to be home for their services.

Jennifer and I joined with Ernesto and Marina Pinto and Pastor Jorge of Honduras in speaking to the 47 who attended. We had some specific goals for the retreat and for our trip. Within the retreat we were praying for God to inspire and refresh the pastors and their wives and to draw them into community with each other. Most are first generation followers of Christ and on top of their church duties usually carry a second job to help make ends meet. They have precious little time and, truth be told, a little anxiety about sharing the journey and burden with other pastors.

We also went with the specific goal to evaluate the effectiveness of these retreats with respect to Eastview's mission investment. I was convinced of its value when we attended the first one five years ago but over the intervening time, and with limited involvement other than financial, we wanted to determine if this was still the best way to invest for the Kingdom in the country of Honduras. Rather than take more space trying to explain why we came home utterly convinced of the efficacy of the retreat, I'd prefer to let you 'see' it for yourself in some of the stories that emerged from those who attended, all under the heading "I will never forget". These came, I am convinced, in no small part as a direct result of the 24-hour prayer vigil being conducted back here at Eastview for that entire weekend.

I will never forget... the immediate deep attitude of worship that these pastors and their wives enter into from the first chord on the guitar.

I will never forget... the thankfulness expressed before the retreat even began by so many who simply needed a break and found the opportunity to do so in comparative luxury and with their wives to be a wonderful gift.

I will never forget... many of the couples responding to Ernesto's invitation to pray that God would touch their marriages. One couple said that had only come because they were given the tickets by another couple who couldn't attend and that they were intending to end their marriage only to have God heal their relationship right there!

I will never forget... their attentiveness, respectfulness and thirst as Jennifer and I muddled through translation to share our hearts with them.

I will never forget... one couple sharing that, unlike most, this was their third retreat and that on both previous occasions their house had been cleaned out while they were away. I couldn't believe that they were back again, particularly when they said that they had lined up someone to look after their house this time, but when he arrived and discovered that this was 'the house that got robbed every year,' decided it was too dangerous and bowed out. Yet they still came! It made me think about the level of my commitment to the Lord - how about you?

I will never forget... the local pastors excusing Ernesto and I from a Q&A session so that they could strategize how they might continue to meet and encourage each other. Lasting fruit!

I will never forget... one couple crying as they shared that they have two children with Down's Syndrome and have never been able to attend any conference - ever - until this retreat, as they lived close by and were able to make trips back and forth to home to check on things. I wish you could all have been there to hear that because you have all been a part of it both in the giving and the praying. Thank you!

I will never forget... one pastor waiting outside the door to our room saying that he wanted so much to give us something for all that we (Eastview) had done for him this day but all he had were two bananas and two oranges which he presented to us as if they were made of gold. Fortunately it was raining at the time and hid the real reason my face was wet!

I will never forget... one pastor sharing that his wife had never been to a motel before, having never, ever even been served by anyone, as she had always been the one to serve.

I will never forget... a couple sharing their pain in leaving the church they had pastored for 24 years because their daughter was raped and became pregnant by one of the church leaders and no one in the church would believe them. Unfortunately this predator had struck again within that church just before they had come to the retreat and they were now believed - way too late of course and...

I will never forget... this couple's daughter coming to the last session along with her son (the result of the rape) and learning that they had named him 'Ernesto' in honour of our Ernesto Pinto, who had stood beside them in their crisis. We all gathered around her and prayed for her - this time it wasn't raining!

I will never ever forget... the fullness in my heart knowing with certainty that we (Eastview) are making a difference in these lives and others like them over the years and that the ripple effect just spreads out from these retreats over the whole country. I can't imagine us doing anything else that would have that kind of impact! Yay God!